NAMIC to Host Climate and Insurance International Summit

The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) announced today that it will host a two-day international summit in March on climate and insurance issues.

Published on January 15, 2009

The event, which is open to individuals from all segments of the insurance industry, will take place March 3-4 at the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower. The meeting comes as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners is in the midst of debate about a proposed controversial climate risk disclosure survey for insurers.

“A number of factors, including the incoming Obama administration and possible resolution to the NAIC climate risk disclosure project, should make this meeting a very timely event for individuals interested in learning the latest about these issues,” said Chuck M. Chamness, NAMIC president/CEO. “Other sessions being planned will focus on the legal implications of climate change on the insurance industry and the evolution of climate models.”

Among the speakers confirmed for the event is Kathy Bardswick, president/CEO of Co-operators Group Limited in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, who will speak about the company’s sustainability journey.

“Ms. Bardswick has been a real leader in the sustainability movement within the insurance industry, including having her company amend its statement of values to include balancing her company’s economic, social and environmental priorities,” Chamness said.

Other speakers will include Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Sean Dilweg, chair of the NAIC’s Climate Change and Global Warming Task Force, as well as representatives from organizations such as the Aon Corporation, Ceres, Deloitte, Travelers and Zurich Financial Services.

While sponsoring an insurance and climate summit may seem like an unlikely venture for an organization that primarily focuses its attention on advocacy issues, Chamness said this issue has a growing interest among the membership, and it also represents a natural outgrowth of the work that NAMIC has done through its stand-alone website, www.climateandinsurance.org.

“We created this website two years ago to serve as an information portal for insurance professionals to learn more about climate change and insurance,” Chamness said. “The Q&A interviews we have conducted and posted on the site have helped to create a real dialogue within the industry on the climate issue.”

More information about the Climate and Insurance International Summit, including an agenda and registration information, can be found at NAMIC’s website, www.namic.org or its stand-alone website, www.climateandinsurance.org.